prepayment structures in leveraged finance: balancing...
TRANSCRIPT
Prepayment Structures in Leveraged Finance:
Balancing Borrower Flexibility With
Lender Protections Debt Retirement Provisions in Syndicated, Mezzanine and Second Lien Term Loans
Today’s faculty features:
1pm Eastern | 12pm Central | 11am Mountain | 10am Pacific
The audio portion of the conference may be accessed via the telephone or by using your computer's
speakers. Please refer to the instructions emailed to registrants for additional information. If you
have any questions, please contact Customer Service at 1-800-926-7926 ext. 1.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2018
Presenting a live 90-minute webinar with interactive Q&A
Alison R. Manzer, Partner, Cassels Brock & Blackwell, Toronto
Timothy R. Ryan, Partner, Holland & Knight, Charlotte, N.C.
Vanessa G. Spiro, Partner, K&L Gates, Pittsburgh and New York
Tips for Optimal Quality
Sound Quality
If you are listening via your computer speakers, please note that the quality
of your sound will vary depending on the speed and quality of your internet
connection.
If the sound quality is not satisfactory, you may listen via the phone: dial
1-866-873-1442 and enter your PIN when prompted. Otherwise, please
send us a chat or e-mail [email protected] immediately so we can address
the problem.
If you dialed in and have any difficulties during the call, press *0 for assistance.
Viewing Quality
To maximize your screen, press the F11 key on your keyboard. To exit full screen,
press the F11 key again.
FOR LIVE EVENT ONLY
Continuing Education Credits
In order for us to process your continuing education credit, you must confirm your
participation in this webinar by completing and submitting the Attendance
Affirmation/Evaluation after the webinar.
A link to the Attendance Affirmation/Evaluation will be in the thank you email
that you will receive immediately following the program.
For additional information about continuing education, call us at 1-800-926-7926
ext. 2.
FOR LIVE EVENT ONLY
Program Materials
If you have not printed the conference materials for this program, please
complete the following steps:
• Click on the ^ symbol next to “Conference Materials” in the middle of the left-
hand column on your screen.
• Click on the tab labeled “Handouts” that appears, and there you will see a
PDF of the slides for today's program.
• Double click on the PDF and a separate page will open.
• Print the slides by clicking on the printer icon.
FOR LIVE EVENT ONLY
Speakers
Vanessa G. Spiro
Partner | New York
+1.212.536.4070
Alison R. Manzer
Cassels Brock & Blackwell
+1.416.869.5469
Tim Ryan
Holland & Knight
+1.980.215.7777
Our Program
• Speaking Outline
1. Debt prepayment provisions generally—borrower and lender considerations
2. Cross Border/International Considerations
3. Voluntary prepayments
4. Mandatory prepayments
5. Borrower Buy Back
6. Prepayment Opt Outs - B Loan Lenders v. A Loan Lenders
7. Prepayment Premiums
8. Allocation of prepayments
9. Prepayment in connection with a defaulted loan
6
Introduction What We Will Focus On
• The panel will review these and other key issues:
― A borrower and its creditors have competing concerns with regard to. The
interplay between borrower and creditor goals regarding retirement of
leveraged debt and market for prepayment requirements and protections in
financing agreements.
― The borrower wants to avoid forced prepayment triggers that restrict its
ability to transact business. Its lender may want such triggers to prevent a
borrower from taking actions that could affect the value of its assets or the
borrower’s ability to repay the loan. The borrower would like to be able to
prepay the loan at any time, while the lenders may desire call protection.
― Term loans commonly require a percentage of “excess cash flow” to be
applied to prepayment. This allows the lender to share in the cash flow
generated by the business’ performance in a good year, as a hedge against
performance in a bad year. A borrower has a substantial incentive to try to
shape the excess cash flow formula in a way that minimizes the amount
calculated.
7
Overview – Debt Prepayment Provisions Generally
• Optional vs Mandatory
― Optional permits the borrower to voluntarily prepay part or all of the loan
before the maturity date.
― Mandatory require the borrower to prepay the loans with cash proceeds
received from certain events.
• Prepayment provisions may also trigger reductions or terminations of loan
commitments.
8
Overview – Debt Prepayment Provisions Generally
• Negotiated as to:
― Amount of proceeds that must be applied to prepay the loans
― What costs and expenses can be deducted when calculating the amount of
cash proceeds
― Sources of cash proceeds required to prepay the loans
― Whether any of the cash proceeds can be reinvested in other assets and under
what conditions
― How the prepayments will be applied to the loans and whether loan
commitments will be permanently reduced
― Whether voluntary prepayments can be made without penalties, fees, or call
premiums
9
Overview – Debt Prepayment Provisions Generally
• Optional Prepayments
― Typically, these prepayments are permitted without penalty but there are
exceptions, particularly on refinancings held by term B lenders.
― Borrower usually has the right to direct application of voluntary prepayments,
provided that all lenders holding the loans are paid on a pro rata basis.
10
Overview – Mandatory Prepayment Provisions
• Mandatory Prepayments
― Highly negotiated depending on:
― Whether borrower is a public company
― The type of business borrower is engaged in
― Creditworthiness of the borrower
― Whether the transaction is a sponsor deal, non-sponsor leveraged loan, or
middle market deal
― Extent to which credit decision is based on assets of the borrower rather than
its cash flow
― Sources of proceeds include excess cash flow, equity issuances, debt
incurrence, proceeds from asset dispositions, and casualty and condemnation
recovery events.
11
Overview – Mandatory Prepayment Provisions
• Excess Cash Flow
― Cash flow generated by the borrower after its obligations are satisfied and
certain operating expenses are taken into account
― Carve-outs highly negotiated
― Purpose: capture a percentage of better-than-expected performance and
repay the loan early.
― Typically between 50-75% of excess cash flow required as mandatory
prepayment
• Debt Incurrence
― Debt not disallowed by the negative covenants of the loan agreement
― To prevent borrower from becoming overleveraged, 100% of proceeds from
additional debt often required to be used as a prepayment
12
Overview – Mandatory Prepayment Provisions
• Equity Issuance
― Inclusion depends on whether entity is public or private.
― If public, not included because equity issuance is a regular business
occurrence.
• Asset Sales
― Usually 100% of proceeds required to be a prepayment.
― Most loan agreements give borrower the option to reinvest proceeds in new
assets, instead of requiring them to prepay.
• Recovery Events
― Generally, payments received from casualty insurance or damaged property
must be applied to prepay loans.
13
Overview – Mandatory Prepayment Provisions
• Extraordinary Receipts
― Money received from tax refunds, pension plan reversions, insurance
proceeds, indemnity payments, acquisition purchase price adjustments, and
litigation settlements and judgements are required to be used to prepay
loans.
― Rarely included and mostly seen in middle market and ABL loans.
14
Overview – Misc Prepayment Provisions
• Revolver Clean Down
― Periodic repayment of amounts outstanding under a revolving facility.
― Usually, amounts can be reborrowed after short waiting period
• Outstanding Obligations in Excess of Commitments
― If outstanding loans exceed the commitment for those obligations then the
loans will be repaid to the extent of the excess.
15
Cross Border / International Considerations
• Market Terms – Canada and the EU
1. Revolver based on credit concerns; Term based on trigger events
2. Project debt differs – to balance deny/ equity or cost to complete
3. Mandatory – based on trigger and from the trigger event funds
4. Pay all and cancel – or – a minimum plus stated increments
5. Re-draw or not – revolving, revolving term and term – differences
6. Break fees and penalties
7. Notice and conditions and irrevocable
8. Allocation across facilities
16
Cross Border / International Considerations
• Legal Considerations Enforcing Prepayment in Other Jurisdictions
1. On the eve of insolvency – trigger issues
2. Director liability and European problems
3. Preferences and claw back claims
4. Not using borrowed funds
5. Use of funded accounts to bring timing issues
6. Statutory restrictions have to be checked for
17
Voluntary prepayments
1. Typically permitted in all kinds of facilities, subject to prepayment premiums or
soft call protection. Noncall protection is rare.
― Unitranche facilities have less onerous call protections than second lien.
― Requires prior notice, timing aligned with notice mechanics based on
applicable conventions for relevant interest rates.
― Often minimum amounts for partial prepayments, with multiples in excess
delineated to avoid administrative hassles.
― Notice of prepayment often irrevocable, trend is to allow rescission if event
giving rise to the prepayment did not occur.
― Alternatively, consider language in payoff letter.
18
Mandatory Prepayments
1. Unique to revolving facilities structure
a) Debt outstanding exceeds the borrowing base. For multicurrency facilities,
consider 5% or so leeway if the excess is due solely to movements in currency
exchange rates.
b) Clean down, less common. In cyclical industries where necessary to show
revolver is not only method of sustaining the credit.
19
Mandatory Prepayments
2. Debt and Equity Issuances
a) Sometimes limited to debt issuances only, since additional equity may be
encouraged
b) Typically require prepayment, after deducting underwriting costs and
discounts, legal costs and expenses and other associated issuance costs. As a
practical matter, the debt prepayment trigger, since usually involves debt
that is not permitted, is merely path to refinancing.
20
Mandatory Prepayments
• Example:
c) Issuance of Debt. On the date of receipt by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries
of any cash proceeds from the incurrence of any Indebtedness of Holdings or
any of its Subsidiaries (other than with respect to any Indebtedness permitted
to be incurred pursuant to Section 6.1 [debt covenant]), Company shall
prepay the Loans and/or the Revolving Commitments shall be permanently
reduced as set forth in Section 2.14(b) in an aggregate amount equal to 100%
of such proceeds, net of underwriting discounts and commissions and other
reasonable costs and expenses associated therewith, in each case, paid to
non-Affiliates, including reasonable legal fees and expenses.
21
Mandatory Prepayments
3. Asset Sales and Casualty Events
a) General parameters: to protect lenders against substantial depletion of asset
value of the loan parties that negatively affects credit-worthiness. Idea is to
capture payments in excess of specified amounts if collateral is being sold (or
in the case of a casualty event, if the collateral has been destroyed and
insurance proceeds collected) and apply to the debt. The counter argument
is that borrower may want to apply those asset sale proceeds to reinvest in
the business
b) Reinvest opportunity: time periods, limitations on amounts
c) Deposit as cash collateral until end of LIBOR interest period to avoid
breakage
22
Mandatory Prepayments
• Example:
b) Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds. No later than the first Business Day following the date of receipt by
Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, or Collateral Agent as loss payee, of any Net Proceeds from insurance
or any condemnation, taking or other casualty, Company shall prepay the Loans in an aggregate amount
equal to 100% of such Net Proceeds; provided, (i) so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, (ii) Administrative Borrower has delivered Collateral Agent prior written
notice of Company’s intention to apply the Reinvestment Amounts to the costs of replacement of the
properties or assets that are the subject of such condemnation, taking or other casualty or the cost of
purchase or construction of other assets useful in the business of Company or its Subsidiaries, (iii) the
monies are held in a Deposit Account in which Collateral Agent has a perfected first-priority security
interest, and (iv) Holdings or its Subsidiaries, as applicable, complete such replacement, purchase, or
construction within 12 months after the initial receipt of such monies (or if a contractual commitment to
reinvest is entered into within 365 days following receipt thereof, to be reinvested within 180 days
thereafter), Holdings and its Subsidiaries shall have the option to apply such monies in an aggregate
amount not to exceed $[TBD] in any Fiscal Year to the costs of replacement of the assets that are the
subject of such condemnation, taking or other casualty or the costs of purchase or construction of other
assets useful in the business of Holdings and its Subsidiaries unless and to the extent that such applicable
period shall have expired without such replacement, purchase or construction being made or completed,
in which case, any amounts remaining in the cash collateral account shall be paid to Administrative Agent
and applied in accordance with Section 2.14(b) [prepayment provision].
23
Mandatory Prepayments
4. Excess Cash Flow
a) Calculated for each fiscal year. Any prepayment is made annually, within a
brief specified period of time after the annual financial information is due to
be delivered. A percentage of excess cash flow, typically beginning with 50%
with step downs and declining to zero when an agreed ratio is reached.
b) Drafted to start with Net Income and add back non-cash deductions or to start
with EBITDA and subtract non-cash additions.
24
Mandatory Prepayments
• Example:
― “Applicable ECF Percentage” means, for any fiscal year of the Lead Borrower
(commencing with the fiscal year beginning on January 1, 2016), (a) 50% if
the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of such fiscal year is
greater than 2.50:1.00, (b) 25% if the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as of the
last day of such fiscal year is less than or equal to 2.50:1.00 and greater than
2.00:1.00 and (c) zero if the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of
such fiscal year is less than or equal to 2.00:1.00.
25
Mandatory Prepayments
• “Excess Cash Flow” means, for any period, an amount equal to
a) the sum, without duplication, of
i. Consolidated Net Income for such period,
ii. an amount equal to the amount of all non-cash charges for such period to the
extent deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, but excluding
any such non-cash charges representing an accrual or reserve for potential
cash items in any future period,
iii. decreases in Consolidated Working Capital and long-term account receivables
for such period (other than any such decreases arising from acquisitions or
dispositions by the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries completed
during such period or the application of acquisition accounting) and
iv. an amount equal to the aggregate net non-cash loss on Dispositions by the
Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period (other than
Dispositions in the ordinary course of business) to the extent deducted in
arriving at such Consolidated Net Income;
v. minus
26
Mandatory Prepayments
b) the sum, without duplication, of
i. an amount equal to the amount of all non-cash credits included in arriving at such
Consolidated Net Income (but excluding any non-cash credit to the extent representing the
reversal of an accrual or reserve described in clause (a)(ii) above) and cash charges, losses
and expenses excluded in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income by virtue of clauses (a)
through (o) of the definition of Consolidated Net Income,
ii. without duplication of amounts deducted pursuant to clause (xi) below in prior fiscal years,
the amount of Capital Expenditures, acquisitions and other Investments of intellectual
property to the extent not expensed or accrued during such period, to the extent that such
Capital Expenditures, acquisitions or other Investments, as the case may be, were financed
with Internally Generated Cash,
iii. the aggregate amount of all principal payments of Indebtedness of the Lead Borrower or its
Restricted Subsidiaries (including (A) the principal component of payments in respect of
Capitalized Leases and (B) the amount of any scheduled repayment of Term Loans pursuant
to Section 2.07(a) and any mandatory prepayment pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(ii), to the
extent required due to a Disposition or Casualty Event that resulted in an increase to
Consolidated Net Income and not in excess of the amount of such increase, but excluding
(X) all voluntary prepayments of Term Loans and (Y) all prepayments of Revolving Credit
Loans and Swing Line Loans) made during such period), to the extent financed with
Internally Generated Cash,
27
Mandatory Prepayments
iv. an amount equal to the aggregate net non-cash gain on Dispositions by the Lead Borrower
and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period (other than Dispositions in the ordinary
course of business) to the extent included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income,
v. increases in Consolidated Working Capital and long-term account receivables for such
period (other than any such increases arising from acquisitions or dispositions by the Lead
Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries completed during such period or the application of
acquisition accounting),
vi. cash payments by the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period in
respect of long-term liabilities of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries other than
Indebtedness,
vii. the amount of Investments and acquisitions made during such period pursuant to the
definition of “Permitted Investment” (other than clauses (a)(i), (c), (d), (g), (h), (j), (k),
(l), (o), (p), (q), (r), (w), (x) or (y) thereof) to the extent that such Investments and
acquisitions were financed with Internally Generated Cash,
viii. the amount of Restricted Payments paid during such period pursuant to 7.06(f), (g), (h), (i),
(j) and (k), to the extent such Restricted Payments were financed with Internally
Generated Cash,
28
Mandatory Prepayments
ix. the aggregate amount of expenditures actually made by the Lead Borrower and its
Restricted Subsidiaries in cash during such period (including expenditures for the payment
of financing fees) to the extent that such expenditures are not expensed during such
period,
x. the aggregate amount of any premium, make-whole or penalty payments actually paid in
cash by the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period that are
required to be made in connection with any prepayment of Indebtedness,
xi. without duplication of amounts deducted from Excess Cash Flow pursuant to clause (b)(ii)
above and at the option of the Lead Borrower, the aggregate consideration required to be
paid in cash by the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to binding
contracts or executed letters of intent (the “Contract Consideration”) entered into prior to
or during such period relating to Capital Expenditures, acquisitions, other Investments or
acquisitions of intellectual property to the extent not expensed and expected to be
consummated or made, in each case during the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters
of the Lead Borrower following the end of such period, provided that to the extent the
aggregate amount of Internally Generated Cash actually utilized to finance such Capital
Expenditure, acquisition, other Investment or acquisitions of intellectual property during
such period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters is less than the Contract Consideration,
the amount of such shortfall shall be added to the calculation of Excess Cash Flow at the
end of such period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters,
29
Mandatory Prepayments
xii. the amount of cash taxes (including penalties and interest) or the tax reserves set aside in
a prior period, in each case to the extent paid in cash in such period to the extent they
exceed the amount of tax expense deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for
such period,
xiii. cash expenditures in respect of Swap Contracts during such fiscal year to the extent not
deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income,
xiv. any payment of cash to be amortized or expensed over a future period and recorded as a
long-term asset,
xv. any restructuring expenses, pension payments or tax contingency payments, in each case
made in cash during such period to the extent such payments exceed the amount of
restructuring expenses, pension payments or tax contingency payments, as the case may
be, that were deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period,
xvi. reimbursable or insured expenses incurred during such fiscal year to the extent that
reimbursement has not yet been received and
xvii. cash expenditures for costs and expenses in connection with acquisitions or Investments,
dispositions and the issuance of equity interests or Indebtedness to the extent not
deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income.
30
Mandatory Prepayments
i. No later than five days following the date on which financial statements have been (or are required to
be) delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) for each fiscal year of the Lead Borrower (commencing with
the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016) and the related Compliance Certificate has been (or is
required to be) delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a), the Borrowers shall cause to be prepaid an
aggregate amount of Term Loans (other than Term Loans that are junior to the Term B Loans in right of
security) in an amount equal to (A) the Applicable ECF Percentage of Excess Cash Flow, if any, for such
fiscal year minus (B) the sum of (1) all voluntary prepayments of Term Loans during such fiscal year (in
each case secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Term B Loans), (2) the amount
actually paid (but in no event exceeding par) in respect of Term Loans (in each case secured by the
Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Term B loans) purchased pursuant to Section 2.14 and Section
2.15 and (3) all voluntary prepayments of Revolving Credit Loans during such fiscal year to the extent
the Revolving Credit Commitments are permanently reduced by the amount of such payments, in the
case of each of the immediately preceding clauses (1) through (3), to the extent such prepayments are
funded with Internally Generated Cash of the applicable Borrower(s) (the difference of (A) minus (B),
the “ECF Prepayment Amount”); provided, however, that if at the time that any such prepayment would
be required, either Borrower (or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower) is required to prepay or
offer to repurchase any Incremental Equivalent Debt or any Refinancing Equivalent Debt, in each case
that is secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis, and pari passu in right of payment, with the
Obligations under Term B Loans and Revolving Credit Loans, pursuant to the terms of the documentation
governing such Indebtedness (such Incremental Equivalent Debt or Refinancing Equivalent Debt required
31
Mandatory Prepayments
to be so prepaid or offered to be so repurchased, “Other Applicable Indebtedness”) with any portion of
the ECF Prepayment Amount, then such Borrower may apply such portion of the ECF Prepayment Amount
on a pro rata basis (determined on the basis of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term
Loans (other than Term Loans that are junior to the Term B Loans in right of security) and Other
Applicable Indebtedness at such time; provided, that the portion of such ECF Prepayment Amount
allocated to the Other Applicable Indebtedness shall not exceed the amount of such ECF Prepayment
Amount required to be allocated to the Other Applicable Indebtedness pursuant to the terms thereof,
and the remaining amount, if any, of such ECF Prepayment Amount shall be allocated to the Term Loans
(other than Term Loans that are junior to the Term B Loans in right of security) in accordance with the
terms hereof) to the prepayment of the Term Loans (other than Term Loans that are junior to the Term B
Loans in right of security) and to the repurchase or prepayment of Other Applicable Indebtedness, and
the amount of prepayment of the Loans that would have otherwise been required pursuant to this
Section 2.05(b)(i) shall be reduced accordingly; provided, further, that to the extent the holders of
Other Applicable Indebtedness decline to have such indebtedness repurchased or prepaid, the declined
amount shall promptly (and in any event within ten (10) Business Days after the date of such rejection)
be applied to prepay the Term Loans (other than Term Loans that are junior to the Term B Loans in right
of security) in accordance with the terms hereof.
32
Mandatory Prepayments
• Another Example:
― “Applicable ECF Percentage” means, for any Fiscal Year, (a) 50% if the Leverage Ratio as of the
last day of such Fiscal Year is greater than 3.20 to 1.00, (b) 25% if the Leverage Ratio as of the
last day of such Fiscal Year is equal to or less than 3.20 to 1.00 but greater than 2.70 to 1.00, and
(c) 0% if the Leverage Ratio as of the last day of such Fiscal Year is equal to or less than 2.70 to
1.00.
― “Consolidated Excess Cash Flow” means, for any period, an amount (if positive) determined for
Holdings and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis equal to:
a) the sum, without duplication, of the amounts for such period of (i) Consolidated EBITDA, plus (ii)
interest income, plus (iii) other non-ordinary course income (excluding any gains or losses
attributable to Asset Sales), plus (iv) the Consolidated Working Capital Adjustment, minus (b)the
sum, without duplication, of the amounts for such period of (i) voluntary and scheduled (but not
mandatory) repayments of Consolidated Total Debt (excluding repayments of Revolving Loans
except to the extent the Revolving Commitments are permanently reduced in connection with such
repayments), plus (ii) Consolidated Capital Expenditures (net of any proceeds of (A) Net Proceeds
of Asset Sales to the extent reinvested in accordance with Section 2.13(a), (B) Net Proceeds to the
extent reinvested in accordance with Section 2.13(b), and (C) any proceeds of related financings
with respect to such expenditures), plus (iii) Consolidated Cash Interest Expense, plus (iv)
provisions for current taxes based on income of Holdings and its Subsidiaries and payable in cash
with respect to such period.
33
Mandatory Prepayments
• Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, without duplication of any
amounts that have already been deducted or excluded, Consolidated Excess Cash Flow
for any period shall exclude for such period, (i) all amounts used to pay Acquisition
Consideration or out-of-pocket fees and expenses relating to or arising out of any
Permitted Acquisition, Capital Expenditures, or other Investments permitted by the terms
of this Agreement, in each case, to the extent funded with Internally Generated Cash, (ii)
any amounts which are used to pay or are reserved to pay any actual or potential
deferred purchase price adjustments in connection with any Permitted Acquisition,
Capital Expenditure permitted under the terms of this Agreement, or other Permitted
Investment, (iii) any prepayment, redemption, repurchase, or other retirement of
Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness arising under this Agreement or any other Loan
Document) and (iv) any amounts permitted to be used and actually used to pay all or any
portion of the Loan Parties’ obligations in respect of the Seller Note, in the case of each
of clauses (i) through (iv), including such amounts that relate to transactions
consummated during the period from the end of the relevant fiscal year through the date
that such Consolidated Excess Cash Flow payment is due (each transaction consummated
during the period from the end of the relevant Fiscal Year through the date that such
Consolidated Excess Cash Flow payment is due, a “Stub Transaction”); provided, that any
such amounts with respect to any Stub Transaction shall not be excluded from the
34
Mandatory Prepayments
calculation of Consolidated Excess Cash Flow for such Fiscal Year in which the payment is
made to the extent such amounts were excluded from the calculation of Consolidated
Excess Cash Flow for the prior Fiscal Year), minus the sum of voluntary prepayments of
the Term Loans and permanent reductions of the Revolving Commitments during such
Fiscal Year to the extent accompanied by a repayment thereof to the extent such
prepayment is funded with Internally Generated Cash Flow.
• Covenant: Consolidated Excess Cash Flow. No later than 15 Business Days after the date
on which the financial statements with respect to each Fiscal Year (commencing with the
Fiscal Year ending on December 31, 2018) are required to be delivered pursuant to
Section 5.1(c), to the extent that there shall be Consolidated Excess Cash Flow for any
such Fiscal Year, Company shall prepay the Loans and/or the Revolving Commitments
shall be permanently reduced as set in Section 2.14(b) in an aggregate amount equal to
the Applicable ECF Percentage of Consolidated Excess Cash Flow.
35
Mandatory Prepayments
5. Extraordinary Receipts
a) More likely in the middle market
b) To capture receipt of money not contemplated by the other provisions, such
as tax refunds or post-closing purchase price adjustments. 100% payable
within short period of time of receipt, often with a minimum threshold
amount so as to weed out immaterial payments.
36
Mandatory Prepayments
• Example:
vii. “Extraordinary Receipts” means any cash received by the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries not in the ordinary
course of business (and not consisting of proceeds described in Section 2.05(c)(v) or (vi) hereof [debt, equity
issuances]), including, without limitation, (a) foreign, United States, state or local tax refunds attributable to
the Parent’s utilization of the net operating losses of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, (b) pension plan
reversions, (c) proceeds of insurance (other than officers liability insurance and any insurance proceeds
received (i) which are owed to a third party that is not an Affiliate of the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries in
accordance with applicable Requirements of Law or with Contractual Obligations entered into in the ordinary
course of business or (ii) as reimbursement for any out-of-pocket costs incurred or made by such Person prior to
the receipt thereof directly related to the event resulting from the payment of such proceeds), (d) judgments,
proceeds of settlements or other consideration of any kind in connection with any cause of action (but
excluding proceeds from causes of actions relating to insurance coverage or indemnities thereof) to the extent
such proceeds exceed the loss, damages, fees, costs and expenses incurred by the applicable Loan Party or
Subsidiary in connection with any such matter, (e) condemnation awards (and payments in lieu thereof), (f)
indemnity payments to the extent the amount received is not required to be remitted to any other Person
(other than any Affiliate of the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries) and to the extent such proceeds exceed the
loss, damages, fees, costs and expenses incurred by or actual remediation and replacement costs of the
applicable Loan Party or Subsidiary in connection with any such matter and (g) any purchase price adjustment
(other than a working capital adjustment) received in connection with any purchase agreement to the extent
the amount received therefrom is not required to be remitted to any other party to such purchase agreement
(other than any Affiliate of the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries) pursuant to the terms thereof and to the
extent such amount exceeds the loss, damages, fees, costs and expenses incurred by the applicable Loan Party
or Subsidiary in connection with any such matter. For the avoidance of doubt, Extraordinary Receipts shall not
include any distributions or dividends received by the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries from their respective
Subsidiaries.
37
Mandatory Prepayments
• Within 3 Business Days of the receipt by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries of
any Extraordinary Receipts, the Borrower shall prepay the outstanding principal of
the Loans in accordance with clause (d) below an amount equal to 100% of the Net
Cash Proceeds of such Extraordinary Receipts to the extent the aggregate amount
of Extraordinary Receipts received by all Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries shall
exceed $250,000 in any Fiscal Year.
6. Term Lenders Right to Decline
a) To preserve yield.
b) Typically, portion declined is applied to the other lenders not declining on pro
rata basis or to other debt holders in capital structure
c) How do lenders know about an upcoming mandatory prepayment? Reporting
covenants in credit agreements usually impose prior notice obligation on
borrowers, and, sometimes include a certification showing the ECF or net
proceeds to be received.
38
Mandatory Prepayments
• Example:
vii. The Lead Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent in writing of any mandatory prepayment of Term
Loans required to be made pursuant to clauses (i) through (iii) of this Section 2.05(b) at least three (3)
Business Days prior to the date of such prepayment. Each such notice shall specify the date of such
prepayment and provide a reasonably detailed calculation of the amount of such prepayment. The
Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Appropriate Lender of the contents of the Lead Borrower’s
prepayment notice and of such Appropriate Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the prepayment. Each Term
Lender may reject all or a portion of its Pro Rata Share of any mandatory prepayment (such declined
amounts, the “Declined Proceeds”) of Term Loans required to be made pursuant to clauses (i), (ii) and
(iii)(y) of this Section 2.05(b) by providing written notice (each, a “Rejection Notice”) to the
Administrative Agent and the Lead Borrower no later than 5:00 p.m. one Business Day after the date of
such Lender’s receipt of notice from the Administrative Agent regarding such prepayment. Each Rejection
Notice from a given Lender shall specify the principal amount of the mandatory repayment of Term Loans
to be rejected by such Lender. If a Term Lender fails to deliver a Rejection Notice to the Administrative
Agent within the time frame specified above or such Rejection Notice fails to specify the principal amount
of the Term Loans to be rejected, any such failure will be deemed an acceptance of the total amount of
such mandatory prepayment of Term Loans. Any Declined Proceeds shall be offered to the Term Lenders
not so declining such prepayment on a pro rata basis in accordance with the amounts of the Term Loans of
such Lender (with such non-declining Term Lenders having the right to decline any prepayment with
Declined Proceeds at the time and in the manner specified by the Administrative Agent). To the extent
such non-declining Term Lenders elect to decline their Pro Rata Share of such Declined Proceeds, any
Declined Proceeds remaining thereafter shall be retained by the Borrowers (such remaining Declined
Proceeds, the “Borrower Retained Prepayment Amounts”).
39
Mandatory Prepayments
7. Funding Losses. A prepayment is triggered by an event, which may result in the
Borrower prepaying on a date other than the last day of a LIBOR interest period. To
avoid funding losses, there may be a mechanic whereby the borrower deposits the
proceeds subject to the mandatory prepayment requirements in a cash collateral
account, which are then paid out by the agent for application to debt when the
then applicable LIBOR interest period ends.
40
Mandatory Prepayments
• Example:
vii. Funding Losses, Etc. All prepayments under this Section 2.05 shall be made
together with, in the case of any such prepayment of a LIBOR Loan on a date other
than the last day of an Interest Period therefor, any amounts owing in respect of
such LIBOR Loan pursuant to Section 3.05. Notwithstanding any of the other
provisions of Section 2.05(b), so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and
be continuing, if any prepayment of LIBOR Loans is required to be made under this
Section 2.05(b), prior to the last day of the Interest Period therefor, the Borrowers
may, in their sole discretion, deposit the amount of any such prepayment otherwise
required to be made thereunder into a Cash Collateral Account until the last day of
such Interest Period, at which time the Administrative Agent shall be authorized
(without any further action by or notice to or from either Borrower or any other
Loan Party) to apply such amount to the prepayment of such Loans in accordance
with this Section 2.05(b). Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any
Event of Default, the Administrative Agent shall also be authorized (without any
further action by or notice to or from either Borrower or any other Loan Party) to
apply such amount to the prepayment of the outstanding Loans in accordance with
this Section 2.05(b).
41
Mandatory Prepayments
• Other Voluntary Devices to Reduce Debt Outstanding
1. Reverse Dutch Auction
a) Historically, non pro rata prepayments not a feature of the loan market,
although present in the bond market. Financial crisis in 2007 changed that.
b) Transparent process, offer is open to all lenders, at a stated price or range of
prices, similar to tender offer for bonds. Feature still in documents, but used
less than during and around the crisis.
42
Mandatory Prepayments
• Example:
Section 2.14 Reverse Dutch Auction Repurchases.
a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Credit Agreement or any other Loan
Document, Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries may, at any time and from time to time, conduct
reverse Dutch auctions in order to purchase Term Loans (each, an “Auction”) (each such Auction
to be managed by an Auction Manager), so long as the following conditions are satisfied:
i. each Auction shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures, terms and conditions set forth
in this Section 2.14 and Schedule 2.14;
ii. no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of the delivery of each
Auction Notice and at the time of purchase of any Term Loans in connection with any Auction;
iii. the maximum principal amount (calculated on the face amount thereof) of all Term Loans that the
Borrowers offer to purchase in any such Auction shall be no less than $10,000,000 (unless a lower
amount is agreed to by the Auction Manager);
iv. the proceeds of Revolving Credit Loans shall not be used for a purchase of any Term Loans in
connection with any Auction;
v. the aggregate principal amount (calculated on the face amount thereof) of all Term Loans so
purchased shall automatically be cancelled and retired by the purchaser thereof on the settlement
date of the relevant purchase (and may not be resold);
vi. no more than one Auction may be ongoing at any one time;
43
Mandatory Prepayments
vii. each Lender participating in any Auction acknowledges and agrees that in connection with such
Auction, (1) the Borrowers then may have, and later may come into possession of, information
regarding the Term Loans or the Loan Parties hereunder that is not known to such Lender and that
may be material to a decision by such Lender to participate in such Auction (“Excluded
Information”), (2) such Lender has independently and, without reliance on either Borrower, any of
its Subsidiaries, the Auction Manager or any of their respective Affiliates, has made its own analysis
and determination to participate in such Auction notwithstanding such Lender’s lack of knowledge
of the Excluded Information and (3) none of Holdings, its Subsidiaries, the Administrative Agent,
the Auction Manager or any of their respective Affiliates shall have any liability to such Lender,
and such Lender hereby waives and releases, to the extent permitted by law, any claims such
Lender may have against either Borrower, its Subsidiaries, the Administrative Agent, the Auction
Manager and their respective Affiliates, under applicable laws or otherwise, with respect to the
nondisclosure of the Excluded Information. Each Lender participating in any Auction further
acknowledges that the Excluded Information may not be available to the Auction Manager or the
other Lenders; and
viii. at the time of each purchase of Term Loans through an Auction, the Lead Borrower shall have
delivered to the Auction Manager an Officer’s Certificate of the Lead Borrower certifying as to
compliance with preceding clauses (ii) and (iv).
44
Mandatory Prepayments
b) The Lead Borrower must terminate an Auction if it fails to satisfy one or more of the conditions
set forth above which are required to be met at the time which otherwise would have been the
time of purchase of Term Loans pursuant to the respective Auction. If the Lead Borrower
commences any Auction (and all relevant requirements set forth above which are required to be
satisfied at the time of the commencement of the respective Auction have in fact been satisfied),
and if at such time of commencement the Lead Borrower reasonably believes that all required
conditions set forth above which are required to be satisfied at the time of the purchase of Term
Loans pursuant to such Auction shall be satisfied, then the Lead Borrower shall have no liability to
any Lender for any termination of the respective Auction as a result of its failure to satisfy one or
more of the conditions set forth above which are required to be met at the time which otherwise
would have been the time of purchase of Term Loans pursuant to the respective Auction, and any
such failure shall not result in any Default hereunder. With respect to all purchases of Term Loans
made by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to this Section 2.14, (x) Holdings or such
Subsidiary (as applicable) shall pay on the settlement date of each such purchase all accrued and
unpaid interest (except to the extent otherwise set forth in the relevant offering documents), if
any, on the purchased Term Loans up to the settlement date of such purchase and (y) such
purchases (and the payments made by Holdings or such Subsidiary (as applicable) and the
cancellation of the purchased Term Loans, in each case in connection therewith) shall not
constitute voluntary or mandatory payments or prepayments for purposes of determining
compliance with Sections 2.05 or Section 2.13.
45
Mandatory Prepayments
c) The Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby consent to the Auctions and
the other transactions contemplated by this Section 2.14 (provided that no
Lender shall have an obligation to participate in any such Auctions) and
hereby waive the requirements of any provision of this Agreement (including,
without limitation, Sections 2.05 and Section 2.13 (it being understood and
acknowledged that purchases of the Term Loans by Holdings or any of its
Subsidiaries contemplated by this Section 2.14 shall not constitute
Investments by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries)) or any other Loan
Document that may otherwise prohibit any Auction or any other transaction
contemplated by this Section 2.14.
46
Mandatory Prepayments
2. Open Market Purchases
a) Expressed language required for borrower debt buybacks, since typically
borrower or any other loan party is excluded from eligibility to purchase loan
assignments.
b) Loans acquired by borrower required to be retired.
c) If necessary, agreement will prohibit the use of additional borrowing to pay
for the debt retirement.
47
Mandatory Prepayments
• Example:
Section 2.15 Open Market Purchases.
a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Credit Agreement
or any other Loan Document, Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries may, at any
time and from time to time, make open market purchases of Term Loans
(each, an “Open Market Purchase”), so long as the following conditions are
satisfied:
i. no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of
such Open Market Purchase;
ii. the aggregate principal amount (calculated on the face amount thereof) of all
Term Loans so purchased shall automatically be cancelled and retired by the
purchaser thereof on the settlement date of the relevant purchase (and may
not be resold); and
iii. the proceeds of Revolving Credit Loans shall not be used for a purchase of any
Term Loans in connection with any Auction.
48
Mandatory Prepayments
b) With respect to all purchases of Term Loans made by Holdings or any of its
Subsidiaries pursuant to this Section 2.15, (x) Holdings or such Subsidiary (as
applicable) shall pay on the settlement date of each such purchase all accrued and
unpaid interest, if any, on the purchased Term Loans up to the settlement date of
such purchase (except to the extent otherwise set forth in the relevant purchase
documents as agreed by the respective selling Lender) and (y) such purchases (and
the payments made by Holdings or such Subsidiary (as applicable) and the
cancellation of the purchased Term Loans, in each case in connection therewith)
shall not constitute voluntary or mandatory payments or prepayments for purposes
of Sections 2.05 or Section 2.13.
c) The Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby consent to the Open Market
Purchases contemplated by this Section 2.15 and hereby waive the requirements of
any provision of this Agreement (including, without limitation, Section 2.05 and
Section 2.13 (it being understood and acknowledged that purchases of the Term
Loans contemplated by this Section 2.15 shall not constitute Investments by the
Borrowers)) or any other Loan Document that may otherwise prohibit any Open
Market Purchase by this Section 2.15.
49
Prepayment Opt Outs
• Term B Lenders more likely to opt out than Term A
― Typically Term B are institutional investors with a long-term investment
strategy and do not want their loans to be repaid early
• If a Lender declines, the amount is often reallocated among the non-declining
lenders but may be used to prepay other loans or remain with the borrower.
• If there are multiple loan tranches, the borrower is usually required to allocate
ratably among tranches.
50
Prepayment Premiums
• Also known as call protection, a make-whole or a prepayment penalty. A penalty
assessed against a borrower who elects to pay off a debt before its maturity date.
This amount can potentially be quite significant.
― In bank loan financings, certain loan agreements require that a prepayment
premium (or call premium) must be paid by the borrower to prepay all or part
of the loans. This fee can be payable on all prepayments or only on
prepayments made as part of a refinancing of the loans. Prepayment
penalties are more common on refinancings of loans held by term B lenders
but can be based on refinancings of the entire loan facility.
51
Prepayment Premiums
• Soft call are only paid when the loan is refinanced or repriced, while hard call are
paid on mandatory repayments, such as from asset sale proceeds.
• Soft call prepayment premiums continue to be incorporated in large corporate loan
agreements, with premiums of 1% in the first year of the loan being common.
― Becoming more common in middle market deals, as more institutional
investors, seeking higher yields, are investing in middle market loans.
― Middle markets deals may now include provisions prohibiting voluntary
prepayments in the first year (no call provisions), with a 3% premium in the
second year and 1% step-downs in each of the following two years.
52
Prepayment Premiums
• Hard call prepayment premiums are less common in large corporate loans than in
middle market deals.
• Recent: some sponsored borrowers are now negotiating carve-outs for prepayment
premiums that are payable in connection with a borrower change of control, which
allow sponsors to sell portfolio companies and repay their ;loans without paying
call premiums.
53
Allocation of Prepayments
• Borrower v. Market preferences
1. Term, Overdraft, Revolver - practices and approaches differ
2. Inverse order, next payment or pro rata
3. Allocation to least or most expensive – cost of interest, penalty and breakage
4. Hedging facility v. Cash Flow facility
5. Cash receipt trigger event – ability to use or not
54
Allocation of Prepayments
• Internal – Proportionate, Last payment or First Payment
1. First dollar next owed or last installments (inverse)
2. The case for pro rata – when and why
3. Senior only or subordinate participation
4. Credit support products and what happens – LC, Hedge
5. What else comes out of the cash receipt trigger amount before the
prepayment
55
Allocation of Prepayments
• Insurance proceeds
1. Requires payment of 100% or ability to use to repair and replace
2. Set percentage of proceeds or discretion
3. The effect of shut down, requirement for quality if replace
4. On the eve of insolvency
5. Security over proceeds before application
56
Prepayment with a defaulted loan
• Usual basis for prepayment when loan is in default
1. How does it fit with acceleration – making it clear
2. What is the prepayment bonus – if a penalty may be an issue
3. Breakage – how does that fit, is it collectable
4. Can you set different terms – such as increase collection from trigger events
5. How does payment fit with realization
57
Prepayment with a defaulted loan
• Allocation of payment requirements
1. Most or least expensive becomes important
2. Can you switch from first allocation to term to first to revolver
3. Can you revise to last dollars
58
Prepayment with a defaulted loan
• Enforceability
1. Insolvency protections for the borrower may eliminate the penalty
2. Can you separate and protect breakage as liquidated damages
3. Does a liquidated damages based waiver o protection work
59
Speakers
Vanessa G. Spiro
Partner | New York
+1.212.536.4070
Alison R. Manzer
Cassels Brock & Blackwell
+1.416.869.5469
Tim Ryan
Holland & Knight
+1.980.215.7777